AND SO THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…

If like us, once you’ve experienced the hidden world of our show cave, you want the adventure to continue, sign up for our Deep Level adventure.
See where your curiosity can take you, on a caving trip into parts of the Caves not normally seen by visitors. Under the expert guidance of our Mine Leader you will be able to investigate a totally new world. Discover where the next turn leads, dare to go deeper!

This is a great opportunity to do something different. This is a genuine caving trip, exploring fascinating features through chambers mined over the centuries. The trips include slithering through a few passageways between caverns and doing a little simple climbing. The trips can be a bit dirty but are great fun, so wear old loose clothing covering the arms and legs; sweatshirt and jogging bottoms are very suitable.

Helmets, lamps, overalls and belts provided. Please wear walking boots or wellies with a good grip. We have some wellies available if required.

Participants must be able to bear their own weight on their arms and be reasonably agile. Young persons (children below 18yrs old) are required by law to be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

Trips take around 3 hours including kitting up and are suitable for most abilities. Leaders are knowledgeable and experienced.

Deep Level trips are exciting, great fun and suitable for persons 7yrs+.

BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH (SEMI-DEEP CAVING)

We will be offering a few of these amazing caving experiences through the year. Starting on the public tour, these are more straightforward caving activities that go off route with an  excellent guide, to discover parts of the Cave last worked by miners centuries ago.

A perfect introductory experience for adventure trips, birthdays, or just those with a curious nature. Allow 2 hours.

Small groups are led by experienced and knowledgeable guides. The 2hrs includes time for kitting up etc, arrive at least 10mins before the booked time to check in.

Adults: £30.00           Children: £25.00

All young persons (over 7 years and under 18 years) must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. You will be asked to sign to confirm you are their accompanying parent/guardian.

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DARE TO GO DEEPER! (DEEP LEVEL CAVING)

Go deep under the Forest, visiting parts of this labyrinth of over 250 acres of passageways and caverns. Walk, crawl, slither and clamber your way down to over 200ft (62m) underground; you will be caving through natural and mined features. Get kitted up and our guide takes you on a more extensive and demanding caving adventure, with routes chosen to suit a wide variety of skills and abilities. Adventurous and great fun.

We supply helmets, lamps, belts and overalls, please wear wellies (some are available if required) or walking boots with a good grip. After discussion with everyone, the guide chooses a route to suit your ability and interests. Allow 3 hours.

Small groups, led by experienced guides. The 3hrs includes time for kitting up, arrive 10 minutes before the booked time to check in.

Adults: £40.00        Children: £35.00

All young persons (children over 7 years and under 18 years) must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. You will be asked to sign to confirm you are their accompanying parent/guardian.

EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN WITH FRIENDS

Enjoy a caving activity as an individual, with your group, co-workers or 'crew.'

From the very first days the Caves opened to the public in 1968, we have been taking visitors on adventurous excursions. We provide exciting guided trips and caving activities for a wide range of abilities and interests.

Please telephone to book if you have specific requirements to ensure we organise a suitable guide.

 

There are four main types of visit available to groups:

SELF GUIDED VISIT

The group lead themselves through the show caverns.

Allow 40mins-1hr*

GUIDED TOUR

Groups are led through the show caverns by experienced mine guides.

Allow 1-1.5hrs*

SEMI-DEEP LEVEL VISIT

A part guided tour of the show mine and 1hr caving activity. The group wear helmets, lamps and overalls, you will be crawling in places and also get a little dirty. Remember children (under 18's) need a parent or legal guardian on the trip too.

Allow 2hrs*

DEEP LEVEL VISIT

The group are kitted out with helmets, lamps, overalls and wellies and go on a 2hr adventure caving activity, involving crawling, clambering and scrambling down to 200ft underground, through cave and mine workings. Remember under 18's need their parent or legal guardian on the trip too.

Allow 3hrs*

* Times shown are just for the underground part of the visit, extra time should be allowed for arrival, use of loos, shop, café etc. Times can be varied if you let the guide know when you arrive. All young persons must be accompanied by an adult. For caving activities (Semi and Deep Level caving) all over 7 years and under 18 year olds must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. You will be asked to confirm you are their accompanying parent/guardian.

LOWER LEVEL CAVING FAQs

What ability is required?

The caving trips are suitable from beginners with no experience, through to experienced cavers. There are no requirements, but you do need to be able to support yourself on your arms and crawl short distances on your tummy. As long as you are reasonably able bodied and willing to do some simple, slithering and scrambling in places, you should be able to complete and enjoy a great trip. Caving trips will adapted to best suit the least able person in the group.

Can a child go on their own?

No. Children under 18 years must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

What equipment do you provide?

We supply helmets, lamps, overalls, wellies and any safety equipment required and of course, we provide your experienced mine leader.

What footwear should I bring?

We recommend that if possible everyone arrives wearing walking boots, or wellies with good a grip. We do have some wellies available if you do not have anything appropriate, or do not wish to get your footwear dirty. Trainers are not normally suitable, unless made for hillwalking.

Will I feel claustrophobic?

This obviously depends on the person; caving activities do not suit everyone. In places you need to crawl or slither through passageways, the crawls however are fairly short and the caverns you visit are very large, with most of the trip being walking. Many visitors have some apprehension, because caving is such an unfamiliar activity. Once underway, your unfamiliarity usually lifts and the trip can be enjoyed. Apprehensive visitors often remark how once they have got underway, they thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.

Can I telephone through my order for tickets or call in and book?

You can do either. Your booking will be added into the same system, but you can call us or call in to the Caves to book if you wish to. This might be useful if you would like more information about the trips.

What are the full terms and conditions of our online booking?

We have all our terms and conditions shown here.

COVID 19 and hygiene information

We suggest that participants bear hygiene in mind throughout the activity and ensure they do not eat or handle food during this time, or touch their face. After the trip on resurfacing we suggest people carefully wash their hands and use sanitiser where appropriate.

If you have any concerns or questions please contact the booking office, or speak to your guide before the activity.

I have health problems can I still do the caving trip?

If you have any health concerns we recommend consulting your doctor before undertaking a caving activity. You need to be reasonably fit to undertake these activities. We will try to adapt caving activities to suit ability, but if you have concerns, telephone in advance either discuss them at the time of booking, or speak to the manager and we can help advise you. Before taking the trip, after an initial health check of the group, the guide has the ultimate say on who they are willing to take.

Can we bring a child that is a friend of the family

A child from another family (under 18 years old) needs to be accompanied throughout the caving activity by their actual parent/legal guardian.

What clothing do I need to wear?

Wear loose warm clothing you do not mind getting dirty. We supply overalls but you will still get a little grubby. Do not overdress, you will stay warm once you get underway and throughout the trip. A sweat shirt and track suit bottoms are the most comfortable to wear.

Will I get wet during the trip?

It is a dry cave/mine system with occasional drips and puddles in places, but you remain dry and warm throughout the trip.

What age is it suitable for?

We normally do caving activities from 7 years and upwards, as long as you are generally able bodied, there is no upper age limit. If you have concerns please telephone to book and we can advise you. All young persons under 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who will be required to sign a statement to this effect before their trip.

Can I change my booking after I have made it?

We will do our best to help you change your booking up to 2 days before you are due to come, to another scheduled time slot, availability permitting.

Can I cancel my ticket?

We can refund your ticket(s) up to 2 days before the booked time for the trip. After this time we will try to transfer the ticket to another scheduled trip, subject to availability. There is a £5.00 cancellation fee for any refund (fee per transaction, not per ticket), to cover the card and ticketing charges we have paid. Refunds are paid back by the ticketing company, to the original card.

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